Last Sunday, I read all over again all the interesting SMSes that I had received over the last one year. And lived for some time in a world far removed from the reality of the present.

Last Sunday, I read all over again all the interesting SMSes that I had received over the last one year. And lived for some time in a world far removed from the reality of the present.

If I was thrilled to read some of them, there were others that reminded me how cruel the world we live in is. And yet some others reminded me of some great virtues of life, which, if applied in life, could make our existence on this planet much more meaningful and enjoyable.

One of them was this: God asked a young girl, "What is forgiveness?" The girl replied,” It’s the wonderful fragrance given to us by a flower when crushed. Or the lasting auspicious colour those mehendi leaves give us when ground to pulp."

It is difficult to be a Gandhi or a Christ and follow them. But it is not impossible. One who understands the nature of life and its ultimate aim can very well see reasons good enough to be a Gandhi or a Christ. And if you deliberate on the pros and cons of forgiveness, you will realise that your victory lies in showing the other cheek.

I am a fan of Robert Browning. He is one who would give you gems of lessons for living a good and purposeful life.

Reflect on these words, "It's good to forgive, best to forget." By forgiving someone who has wronged you or harmed you, you rise to the level of gods. That is why Peter von Winter, the great German opera composer, had said," It is manlike to punish, but godlike to forgive."

The best and the most sublime enjoyments of life can be tasted only after forgiving your 'enemy'. You will realise that you have not done anything good to your ‘enemy’ but to yourself because, as Winston Churchill said, nothing is more costly, nothing more sterile than vengeance. One has to be necessarily kind and loving because only kindness gives birth to kindness.

Remember this truth that you can't be good until you are good to others!